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Disappearing Act

I finally managed to take a quick photo of my favorite rye bread—it is devoured so quickly that I rarely have a chance.

Light Rye Bread

This is a light rye—both in flavor and in texture—its slight chewiness and soft crust contribute plenty of character and make slicing a breeze. The addition of a small amount of brown sugar works symbiotically with the rye to fully point up its nuttiness. These are all qualities that translate well for an all-purpose bread: it’s equally good toasted for breakfast, adaptable for a range of mid-day sandwiches, and is a superb accompaniment to hearty soups and one-pot meals.

The dough is fairly moist and requires a double-rise that takes time, but it moves swiftly, resulting in a well-rounded, reliable loaf. I use it often and tend to change it up based on my needs at the time. For example, swapping out a mere 1/2 cup of wheat flour for all-purpose flour will make a substantial difference. I also like it free-formed into a boulé of sorts, with an egg wash brushed on the exterior for a thicker, firmer crust. See the cornmeal-crusted rye variation that follows, and don’t be surprised how quickly it disappears!

In a 1-cup measure, combine 1 tsp. of the sugar and 1/4 cup warm water; sprinkle the yeast over it and stir to dissolve. Let stand in a warm place until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining brown sugar, oil, salt, rye flour, the yeast mixture, and 1 cup warm water; mix until smooth. Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour and mix well, it will still be slightly wet. Pour remaining ½ cup flour out onto work surface and knead the dough, incorporating more flour until it is very smooth and no longer sticky, about 5 minutes,

Place dough in a well-oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in warm spot for 1 hour until doubled. Butter 9×4” loaf pan. Punch down the dough and turn out onto floured surface. Knead again for 1 minute, place dough in the loaf pan, cover, and let rise another hour.

Preheat oven to 375°. Bake for 35 minutes, until well browned on top and sounds hollow when tapped on bottom. Brush the top of the loaf with softened butter. Invert the pan and turn out the loaf onto wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf.

Variation for Cornmeal-Crusted Rye: Instead of all rye flour, use 1/4 cup semolina flour, 1/4 cup buckwheat flour, and 3/4 cup rye, plus 1 tsp. each fennel and caraway seeds. During the kneading process, use approximately 1/2 cup additional all-purpose flour for a denser free-formed dough, and let it rise. Shape into soft smooth round boulé loaf and place on cornmeal dusted oiled baking sheet to rise again. Before baking, brush the loaf top with a glaze of 1 beaten egg white plus 1 Tbsp. water, and sprinkle with more cornmeal if desired. Slash top with a sharp blade to form cross-hatch mark; bake at 375° for 35 minutes, until well browned.

Welcome!

I'm Carole, and this is where I celebrate and explore the journey of food from the land to the table. There is a little bit of everything here, but the focus is mainly on wholesome, economical recipes that both nourish and entertain. Naturally, I write about those inevitable food tangents and all the other culinary distractions savored along the way. Enjoy!